Device for setting keys on valve stems



Feb. 19, 1952 .1. R. WOLFE ET AL ,7 6

DEVICE FOR SETTING KEYS ON VALVE STEMS Filed May 13, 1947 k g I 1f "2%91 m g 27,

Patented Feb. 19, 1952 VALVE STEMS Chicago. and Charles .E..Kelle y,

Hin'sdale, .Ill.

ApplicationiMay 13, 1947, serial No. 747,630

This invention relates to a key setting device, I

andis particularly useful for the setting of keys on valve .rods and on other structures.

.In the setting-of keys on valve rods, great difficulty is encountered because the annular key is in two parts and the segmental parts have to be positioned with respect to the grooves in the valve stem while the key retainer is held in raised position. Since thekeys are small and difiicult to handle and the spring above has to be kept compressed, the operation is one which is laborious and time-consuming.

, An object of the present invention is to provide simple mechanism whereby the keys can be held accurately and in true alignment for accurate placing upon the valve stem, while at the same "time permitting the ready removal of the key-setting means when the key retainer and spring are released. Yet another object is to provide key-setting means permitting angular movement of the key-setting device and permittingaccurate adjustment of the device to the shape of the particular keys being inserted into position. Yet another object is to provide effective means for holdin small objects in a desired accurate alignment with respect to each other and the surface to which they are to be applied, while at the same time. providing for the removal of the supporting means. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a key setting device or supporting device embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a rear end view; Fig. 3, a sectional view showing the device applied to a valve stem for the setting of the key parts thereon; Fig. 4, a top plan view; Fig. 5, a transverse sectional view of one of the magnetic blocks employed; Fig. 6, a front view in elevation of the structure shown in Fig. Fig. '7, a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 8, an enlarged view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the partial rotating of the handle portions about a longitudinal axis.

In the illustration given, In designates a stem positioned above the tappets l l and provided with a key groove l2. Above the groove I 2 is a spring l3 bearing against the key retainer M. The key retainer is provided with an outwardly-extending flange l5 for receiving the spring l3 and with a tapered recess 16 adapted to receive the segmental key parts 11. The key segments I! are semi- .2 Claims. (01. 81-51.)

circular andare provided centrally with an inwardly-extending key 18 adapted to be received within the groove I2.-t The key segments 11 have outer sides 19 which are tapered downwardly and outwardly. All of the parts described are old and well known and need not be described in greater detail.

Ourkey setting device orsupport 20 comprises handle. portions 2| having rearwardly-exten'ding redueedportions 22. The'portions 22 are preferably arcuate, as shown bestlin Fig. 2, andcon nected by a rivet-23, so .thathandle portions 2| can be longitudinally rotated to have an angular relationship with respect to each other. With thisstructure, the :members 22 give a floating action for varying theangle in "the key-adjusting operation. Thehandle portions 2| extend inwardly, and one of the members is reduced :to provide a forwardly-extending jaw '24 extending through a .slot 25 in theother member. The slotted member terminates in the jaw .26.

Each of the jaws is provided with -.an inwardlyextending bottom flange 21 upon which rests a magnetic block 28. The magnetic block .28 extends inwardly of the forward edge of the flange 21 so that there is thus provided a projecting lip 29 adapted to support the lower edge of the key part IT. The blocks 28 are provided with arcuate seats which are tapered downwardly and outwardly along the wall 30 so as to receive the tapered outer surfaces I9 of the key segments I1.

An eyelet 3| extends through the wall of the Jaw 24 or 26 and has alninner head received within a recess of the block 28 and an outer head swaged against the outer face of the jaw, as shown best in Fig. 5. Each magnetic block 28 is secured to the jaw by'the eyelet 3| or by any other suitable means.

Mounted between the handle member I1 is a spring 32 tending to urge the jaw members 24 and 26 toward each other. The spring member 32 cooperates with the arcuate members 22 in providing a floating action in the operation of the device, whereby jaw members 24 and 2B are turned from their normally parallel relation to assume the angle of the sides of various valve keepers.

Operation In the operation of the key setting device the handles 2| are compressed, opening the magnetic jaws 28, key parts I I are positioned within the magnetic blocks 28, then positioned around the valve stem III, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. Pres- 3 7 sure on the handles 2| is released to bring th key parts into the position shown in Fig. 3, spring pressure holding it in this position. At this time, the key retainer l4 may be released, and the spring 13 brings the member l4 downwardly so as to envelop the key parts I! and to dislodge the magnetic blocks 28 from engagement with the key parts. In other words, the jaws 24 and 26 together with the blocks 28 will be forced downwardly as the key retainer l4 engages the key parts I! in efiective holding relation.

While we have described the various movements in detail, it will be understood that in actual practice the operation requires but an extremely brief time. The magnetic blocks 28 permit the positioning of the keys accurately thereon, while at the same time they readily release the keys as the key retainer l4 moves downwardly and envelope the parts [1. The structure described permits a floating action for varying the angle of the keys and permits the setting deviceto be readily employed with keys of varying angles.

The key setting device enables extremely small key parts to be positioned accurately upon the magnetic blocks because the keys can be tapped or moved slightly thereon to any accurate position and thereafter the keys can be applied even in small and difiicultly-accessible positions, while at the same time the holding means is readily removed under the action of the key-retaining member and. without dislodging the key beads from their position in the groove l2.

While we .have described the device in con nection with the setting of keys and in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating one embodiment of the invention in conjunction with a specific use, it will be understood that the in vention is applicable to varied uses and that the details'thereof may be widely modified by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. In a key setting device for holding complementary arcuate key parts having tapered outer surfaces, said key parts being adapted to engage a grooved valve stem and to be held in fixed relation therewith by a spring-pressed key retainer, a holder member consisting of a pair of flat metal members having arcuate end portions pivotally secured together, said end portions having facing convex surfaces rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said key setting device, said metal members providing at their other ends opposed jaws equipped with magnet blocks, and spring means urging said jaws together.

2. In a key setting device for holding complementary arcuate key parts having tapered outer surfaces, said key parts being adapted'to engage a grooved valve stem and to be held in fixed relation therewith by a tubular retainer, a holder member. equipped with movable arms pivotally connected together at one end and providing opposed jaws at their other end, permanent magnets carried by said jaws for engagement with said arcuate key parts and having tapered inner walls adapted to engage the outer surfaces of said keys, and spring means urging said jaws together, said arms where pivotally connected together having facing convex surfaces rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said key setting device.

JOHN R. WOLFE. CHARLES E. KELLEY;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date v 1,536,601 Anderson May 5, 1925 1,901,727 Borland Mar. 14, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 324,657 Great Britain Jan. 30, 1930 413,783 Great Britain July 26, 1934 

